Page 266 of Steamy Ever After

“We’ll finish this conversation later.”

“No, Mom, we won’t. There’s nothing more to say on the Butler subject.”

After dinner, Peyton took the path to the guesthouse. The boys wanted to sleep in the main house again tonight, and she didn’t mind. At least she was with them for dinner, a rare occurrence on a Saturday night. She’d be with them again tomorrow, if her dad agreed to cover for her.

The little house had been her home right after Kade died. Her pillow could tell stories about how she’d cried into it night after night. She found comfort being so close to her mom and dad, particularly since her mom often came down to check on her.

She was their only child. After she was born, they’d tried to have more children, but her mom miscarried enough times that her dad said he couldn’t stand to watch her go through it again. They talked about adoption, but the process was long and complex, and soon, they gave up on that too.

Peyton often wished for a brother or sister, but once she became friends with Alex, she realized how overwhelming a big family could be. Her friend had six brothers, and she was right in the middle of the pack. She’d beg to spend the night at Peyton’s house so she could get away from the chaos.

Her phone vibrated with a text alert. She guessed it was Brodie, and she was right. It would be so easy to give in and answer him, but she couldn’t. It was better to cut ties now, before either of them got in any deeper. She didn’t care what Kade’s ghost had told his mother.

BRODIE

“Where have you been?” Naughton asked when Brodie walked into his place.

“First, I saw Peyton, then I went for a ride before returning to the hospital to see Ma.”

“How is she?”

“She’s fine, although she begged me to bring her home. Says the walls are closing in on her.”

Naughton laughed.

“She said you were with her when it happened.”

“She and I were in the vineyard, talking about the old-vine Zins when she said she didn’t feel well. The way she was holding herself, where she said she had pain, I knew it was her heart.”

“I’m glad you were there,” said Brodie.

“Me too, since neither of my brothers bothered to come home last night.”

Brodie raised a brow. “Mad didn’t? Interesting.”

“I can’t believe you didn’t know about him and Alex.”

“Not a clue.”

Naughton smirked. “He’s more in love with her than you are with Peyton.”

“I’m not in love with Peyton.” Although he could be if she’d let him.

“You tell her that Ma dreamed she saw Kade?”

“Yeah.”

“What’d she say?”

“That she never wants to see me again.”

Naughton laughed again, which Brodie didn’t appreciate.

“Wait until you’re where I am, brother. Some girl getting you all tied up in knots.”

“Who says I’m not?”

Brodie raised a brow. “Then, how come you were home last night?”

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